The country could secure coronavirus vaccines by March 2021 once the government grants approval of such life-saving drugs for emergency use, Food and Drug Authority (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo said Thursday.

According to Domingo, the coronavirus vaccines like those developed by Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca could apply for emergency use authorization (EUA) in the Philippines after they secure an equivalent EUA from concerned government and health authorities abroad.

The issuance of EUA will hasten the processing period for approving the coronavirus vaccine to 21 to 28 days from six months, according to Domingo.

The health official made the remarks after citing that the United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) may authorize the emergency use of coronavirus vaccines developed Pfizer and Moderna within one to two weeks. The United Kingdom became the first Western nation to grant emergency approval to the vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech and will reportedly roll out the first batch of doses next week.

"Ang ibig sabihin nito, itong mga kompanyang ito kapag sila na-approve na  sa America or sa UK, maaaring naghahanda na sila sa pag-aapply sa iba't-ibang bansa tulad ng Pilipinas. kapag nag-apply sila dito sa atin, then maaring by first few weeks of January mayroon na tayong maibgay na EUA (This means that once these companies secure an approval in the United States or United Kingdom, they are likely preparing to apply in other countries like the Philippines. If they apply in the country, then we can give EUA in the first few weeks of January)," Domingo said during a virtual Palace press briefing.

"At baka mapaaga na kaunti, baka magkaroon ng chance ng mga March ay magkaroon ng bauna dito sa Pilipinas (It may arrive earlier, there might be a chance the Philippines can have the vaccines by March)," he said.

Prior to Domingo's remarks, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said President Duterte wanted the government's COVID immunization program to begin earlier than the projected second quarter of 2021. Roque asked Domingo if the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine would be possible in the first quarter of 2021.

Asked by Roque if the vaccines can be made available as early as January, Domingo agreed that this was possible. The FDA official however made clear that the country's vaccine supply will depend on the amount of drug production by the foreign pharmaceutical firms.

"Magiging depende na lang ito sa production, kung mayroon mailalalaan na supply para sa Pilipinas at  maide-deliver agad sa atin para ma-distribute natin (It will now depend on the production, if they can set aside a supply for the Philippines, deliver them to us so we can distribute them)," Domingo said. 

Asked about the possible vaccines that may be given EUA in the country, Domingo said these drugs must already have an equivalent emergency use authority from its origin country, a stringent regulatory authority or the World Health Organization. He said this will be the government’s primary requirement for vaccines applying for EUA in the country.

President Duterte earlier granted authority to the FDA director general to issue EUA for coronavirus vaccines and treatments. The latest move aims to accelerate the the availability and use of such vaccines in the absence of available alternatives.

In evaluating EUA applications, the FDA director general is authorized to implement reliance and recognition process for the emergency use of drugs and vaccines.  The FDA can also convene a panel of experts to conduct a review of data on the safety and efficacy of a COVID-19 drug or vaccine applying for an EUA.